Roller screen



Oct. 7, 1947. F. zEGA 2,428,644

ROLLER SCREEN Filed Nov. 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheety 1 ATTORNEYS F. zEGAROLLER 'SCREEN Filed Nov. 25, 1945 Oct. 7, 1947.

2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 I INVENTOR e.

,Freni ga BW www ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1.947

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

aon-Len SCREEN Frank Zega, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application November 23, 1945, serial No. 630,258

(o1. red-'23) 6 Claims.

'This invention relates .to improvements in roller screens and panes foruse with windows of dwellings and other building structures.

An object of the invention 'is to provide an iinproved roller pane orscreen attachment which may be detachably mounted in an out-of-the-wayplace on the window frame, preferably on the exterior thereof, the paneor screening element of the attachment being conveniently extendable tocover and screen the opening, and retractible within a housing when notin use, and the housing and contained element being instantly detachablefrom the window frame without tools, for storage and to permit use offramed storm windows if so desired. VMy roller attachment thus may bequickly mounted on and removed from the window frame, as is done Withthe conventional type of framed screens or panes, yet it occupies butvery little space in storage as compared with the latter, and is muchsmaller and lighter in weight, and therefore more easily installed andremoved.

In accomplishing this object I provide, by the present invention, ahousing and pane or screening element adapted to be deta'chably mountedon and supported by novel brackets, which latter I permanently secure tothe window frame to remain as a part of such, the brackets beingsoarranged as to not interfere with the installing of framed storm Windowswhen the roller screen attachment has been removed from the windowframe. For guiding and conrining the opposite vertical edge portions ofthe pane or screening element when the lat-ter is extended I providenovel vertical guides which are permanently secured to each of the tWouprights of the frame and arranged so as to be substantiallyunnoticeable and to not interfere with operation of the window sashes,or with installation of storm windows.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a novel handle meanssecured t the exterior or leading edge of the pane or screening element,said means being so arranged as to not interfere with the operation ofthe window sashes at any time, and especially when the element is rolledup and not in use, and said handle means also serving to enable theelement to be quickly and conveniently operated and to be easily andsecurely fastened in extended position across the window opening.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of novel means vforpreventing the leading edge and handle means of the pane or screeningelement from being inadvertently entirely with- 2 drawn into the housingat the 'time 1t is retracted and rolled'around the 'spring roller, andtherefore the handle means are always accessible, ready to be grasped.

Another feature ofthe present invention is the provision of reinforcingbars which extend trans'- versely across the pane or screening element,and which serve to support the element iin a at 'or planar position, andto prevent the opposite side edges of the element *from beinginadvertently pulled out of the vertical guides provided for them whenthe element is `in extended position,

Still another feature 'of the invention is the provision of meansextending along the side edges of the parie or Screening element forpreventing excessive wear, and sticking or binding of the element whereit rides in the vertical guides, and for supporting the transversereinforcing bars in predetermined uniformly spaced positions, inaccurate parallelism, the said means also serving to prevent the sidevedges of the element from pulling out of the vertical guides providedfor them.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing the outside of a win'- dow frame inelevation, with the roller screen attachment of the present inventioninstalled thereon, the screening element being extended across theopening of the window.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is' a fragmentary view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing inelevation one end of the housing of the attachment, mounted on itsassociated bracket, which latter is secured adjacent the top or head ofthe window frame.

Fig. 5 is a View -similar to Fig. 4, taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 1showing the other end of the housing and the other supporting bracket.

Fig- 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the housing andscreening element of the attachment, the element being in retrac-ted orrolledeup position on the roller.

Fig. '7 is a View, partly lin elevation and partly in vertical section,of the housing, screening element and roller carrying the latter, one ofthe handles secured to the screening element, being also shown.

Fig. 8 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows 8, 8 of Fig. 7 l

Fig, 9 isa view similar to Fig. 8 except that the 3 end plate of thehousing has been removed to reveal the interior arrangement.

Fig. 10 is a view of the inside of the end plate which was removed fromthe housing of Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a view of a roller-pane element,

partially unrolled from the spring roller of thev attachment, one handleof the element also being shown, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section` taken through the screenguide Vory channel secured to the side wall of the frame, and through jone edge portion of the screening element, a reinforcing rod carried bythe element being also` shown.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the roller screen attachment of the presentinvention is4 shown mounted on a window frame IIJ having jambs orYuprights II, a head I2, and a sill I3. The side walls I4 of the uprightsII have the usual sashguiding strips I5 and molding IS for confining andguiding the upper-.and lower sashes I'I and I8 respectively of thewindow.

According to the present invention I provide a novel roller screenattachment, including a springV the conventional frame screen, and moreeasilyv manipulated during the installation and removal. The Vbracketsand guides for the attachment,

' which are left permanently on the window frame,

are inconspicuous and do not interfere in any way with the operation ofthe sashes,Y or with installation of stormwindows. Y

`In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated herein, thehousing 2li ofthe attachment preferably comprises two sheet metal membersV 2| and 22,which may advantageously be made of sheet i aluminum, Fig. 9, thelatter' member being Vroughly angular in cross-section, having a flatside '7:22a and a slightly curved or convex side 22h bulging outward toprovide space around the spring roller I9. The top, longitudinallyextend- V ing edge of the side 22h has an out-turned flange 22c'which issecured to one edge portionV of the member 2I by rivets 23, the saidedge portion having a depending ange .'24V overhanging the joint betweenthe two membersand acting aS a watershed, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and9. The upper Y edge portion of the flat side 22a. of the member 22 isturned outwardly and downwardly at approximately a 45 angle, to form alongitudinally eX- tending depending flange 25 the edge 26 of which isfolded under and back on itself so as to provide a smooth edge surface,as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Y The sheet metal member 2l of the housinghas iiat sides 2Ia and 2Ib extended at a slight angle with respect ytoeach other, the edge Vportion of the latter side having a dependinglongitudinal flange 27, the lower part 28 offwhich is turned out-'- ireceive lugs 32 on the end platefor thepurpose of enabling the latter tolit flush with the ends 4 of the members, and to prevent the plate frombeing pushed further into the housing. The other end plate 29, in theleft end of the housing,

referring to Fig. '7, hasl inturned apertured lugs 33 by means of whichit is secured to the members 2I and 22 through the use of rivets 34 asshown.

By this construction the housing 20 has an elongate opening 35, Fig. 9,extending for its entire length,'adapted to enable a screening element36 carried on the roller I9 to pass therethrough and be extendeddownward across the opening of the window frame.

VFor the purpose of rotatably mounting the roller I9 in the housing 2,the roller has bearing pins 31 and 38 projecting from its ends, extend-Y ing through apertures in the end plates 29 and 30 respectively, thepin 38 being preferably flat and keyed to the end plate 30 so that thespring 39 within the roher (Fig. 1) may be wound up and the rolleroperated to maintain a tension on the screening element 36 in the mannerof a roller shade. y Y

According to my invention, I provide novel bracket means for demountablysecuring vthe housing 2l] in place on the window frame IIJ whereby thehousing may be quickly installedron or removed from the frame withoutthe use of tools. This means comprises, in the preferred embodimentY ofthe invention illustrated herein, metal brackets 4G and 4I in the formyof thin flat plates, preferably of aluminum, which are secured to theside walls I4 of the Yuprights II by screws 42, Figs. 4 and 5. The screwapertures in the brackets `49 and 4I are preferably couritersunk,A

'frame and will not interfere with the installation of storm windows,since therclearancesY between the storm windows and the frame will notbe materially lessened. However, if the saidrclearances are small tobegin with, the brackets 40 and 4I may be recessed in the side walls I4of the frame, so as to lit ush with the walls.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bracket 4I has an outwardly extended lug Iliawhich is apertured to receive the bearing pin 37 of thescreen roller I9.In Fig. 4, the bracket 40 is provided withs'an openended slot 40a whichextends upwardly at an angle toward the centerV of the bracket and isadapted to receive the flat bearing pin 38 of the Yroller I9 and to lockthe pin against turning.

The housing 20 and roller I9 carried thereby may thus be quickly andconveniently mounted on the brackets 4U and 4I by Vmanipulating it tofirst insert the bearingV pin 31 in the bracket 4I and then slide thefiat bearing pin 38 laterally into the groove 40a. Y

In order to lock the bearing pin 38 in the groove 40a, and to enablethe'pin' to be freed at will for removal of theV housing 26 fromtheframe I0, I provide a locking pin or bar 43 axially movable 'Y l[inbearings 44 which are' secured to the housing bracket 40,1th'e bar V43rwhen in extended position Y as shown in Fig- 4 normally blocking thebearing pin'38. against lateral movement out of theslot 40a. As shown,Vthe bal` 43 may carry an extension. springg'iV by which it is yieldablyheld inthe extended position shown, and may have a knob 46 to be4grasped forrmoving the bar V43 'downward to' clear, the slotiand'l freethe bearing 131.1138.Y 1`"""',' Y 'fj n= accordance with the presentinvention, I provide novel guiding means for the side edge portions ofthe screening element 36, said guiding means being so arranged as to beconveniently permanently mounted on the outer set of sash guides I andyet not interfere with movement of the upper sash I'I, nor withinstallation of storm windows on the frame i8. Referring to Fig. 3, mynovel guiding means comprises a pair of ang-les 41 and 48 secured to abase strip 49, all of said parts being secured to the sash guide I5 bywoodscrews 56 screwed into the said guide. The angles 4l and 48, and thestrip 49 may be advantageously made of aluminum, and it will be notedthat the angles and the base strip do not project beyond the oppositesides of the sash guide I5, but are flush therewith. Thus the operationof the window sash II is not interfered with, nor is there anyobstruction to the installation of storm window.Y For this reason, myguiding means comprising the angles 47 and 43 and the base strip 49 maybe left permanently attached to the window frame even when the housing25 and roller I9 carriedv thereby are removed for storage.

According to this invention the screening element 35, which may be ofmetal mesh, but is preferably formed of plastic, is provided with fiatribbons 5I along both sides. of its opposite edge portions, the ribbonsbeing of spring material such as phosphor bronze, and being secured attheir leading ends to the ends of a channel-shaped clamping strip 52which clamps the leading edge of the screening element 36.

For purposes of reinforcement, the screening element 35 is provided withreinforcing rods 54,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 12, said rods being preferably of brass orbronze, and extending transversely across the element between theopposite side edgesthereof, and being secured to the strips 5I by anysuitable means such as brazing or soldering. The rods 54 are4 alsosecured to the screening element 3bV at intervals, by tying thesetogether with wire or string, as shown at 55, Fig. 12.

By this construction the reinforcing rods 54 maintain the flexibleStrips 5I properly spaced apart, and- -by being secured to the screeningelement 36, tend to maintain the latter in a nat plane when the elementis extended downward across the opening of the window frame. The ribbons5I extending along the opposite sides of the edge portions of thescreening element are secured together at intervals to hold thescreening element between them and to prevent the edge of the element soas to not interfere withl the operation of the upper sash I 'I of thewindow.

When it is desired to extend or lower the screening element across thewindow opening, the handles 56 are grasped and pulled downward to extendthe element across the window opening. On the threshold I3 of the frameI provide a pair of wing screws 58 adapted to be received in slots 59 inthe handles 56, so that the latter may be locked to th'ewindowsill asshown in Figs; "2l and 3, tohold the screening element 316 in extendedposition.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the down-turned flange 25 ofthe sheet metal member 22 of the housing acts as a smooth and roundedbearing surface over which the screening element 36 and strips 5I slide,thus preventing excessive Wear on the strips and element.

To prevent the screening element from being inadvertently completelywithdrawn into the housing 20, hooks IiIIV are provided, secured to thechannel strip 52 at the leading edge of the screening element, saidhooks being adapted to engage the depending flange 25 when the screeningelement 361s Wound on the roller I 9.

As shown in Fig. 11, a flexible pane element 5I, which may be oftransparent plastic or other like material, may be substituted for thescreening element 36, thereby converting my improved roller attachmentfor use as a storm window. The side edges of the pane element y6I arecarried between the flexible ribbons 5I in the saine manner as thescreening element 36 is carried, and the leading edge of the element issimilarly secured within the channel strip 52. Suitable plastic strapmeans (not shown) may be employed for securing the rods 54 to the paneelement 6I at intervals, as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

In use, for each window of. a dwelling a pair ofA my improved rollerattachments may be provided,

one having a screening element 36 and the other having a pane elementEl, the latter attachment being installed during the winter months, atwhich time the attachment. having the screening element maybeconveniently stored away. Since the bearing pins 3l and 38, and thehousings 20 of both of the above attachments are identical, eitherattachment may be used with the one set of brackets 40, 4| which arepermanently installed on the window frame.

Although in the foregoing description forthe sake of convenience I haveconsidered the screening element 36 as comprising a mesh, and theelem-ent 6I as comprising a flexible imperforate pane, it should beunderstood that the term screening element may be considered asembracing both of the elements 36 and 6I, or any other element in thenature of a protective partition, curtain, or shield, and in thefollowing claims I desire this broader interpretation to be appliedwhere that term screening element appears.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

.1. As an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing closed atboth ends; a roller in said housing carrying a screen and having bearingpins at each end passing through and projecting substantially beyond theends of the housing; brackets having apertured portions for` receivingthe projecting portions of the bearing pins, the aperture in one of saidbrackets comprising an open-ended slot, and said brackets having meansfor securing them to a support; and a longitudinally movable barextending across the said open-ended slot for locking the projectingportion of the bearing pin against lateral movement out of said slot,said bar being manually retractible to free the bearing pin for lateralmovement through the slot,

2. As an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing closed atboth ends;` a roller ,in said housing carrying a screen and havinggbeareing pins at each end passing through andjpr jecting'substantiallydbeyond the ends of; the housing; brackets having aperturedportions for receiving the projecting portions of the bearing pins, theaperture in one of said brackets comprising an open-ended slot, andsaid'brackets having means fornsecuring them toa support; and meansspanning the said open-ended slot for locking the projecting portion ofa bearing pin against lateral movement out of the slot, said meansIbeing manually retractible to kfree the bearing' pin for said lateralmovement when desired.

3. an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing; platesextendingl across the ends of the housing; a roller. in said housinghaving bearing pins at each end passing through the plates. andprojecting beyond the ends `of the housing; and a screening elementcarried by the roller, said housing having an elongate longitudinalopening to enable the screening element to pass therethrough, and one ofsaid end plates and the housing having cooperable interengaging frictionmeans whereby the plate may be quickly mounted on and removed from thehousing.

4. In Y a window construction comprising a vframe having upright sidewalls; brackets secured to the frame, each having a bearing pinreceiving aperture therein, one of said brackets having a slot extendingfrom an edge thereof t its said aperture; a housing; a screen rollermounted in said housing; bearing pins extending from said roller andthrough the ends of said housing and into said bracket apertures; and

means on the slotted bracket for selectively locking the associatedbearing pin therein and releasing it therefrom, whereby the housing andtherethrough, and said brackets having aperturesI for receiving the saidbearing pinsthereby toA support the housing on the brackets, theaperture in one of said brackets comprising an open-ended slot to.enable the associated bearing pin 'to be removed; and a longitudinal barextending across the slot for locking the bearing pin therein againstlateral movement, said bar being manually retractible to free thebearing pin for removal through the slot.

6. In a window construction, .a frame having sash guides on its uprightside walls; vbrackets secured to theframe at the top thereof, eachhaving a bearing pin receiving aperture therein, one of said bracketshaving ai slot extending from an edge thereof to its said aperture; ahousing;Y a screen roller mounted in said housing; bearing pinsextending from said roller and through the ends of said housing and intosaid bracket apertures; a screening element carried by the roller, saidhousing having an elongate opening to enablethe screening element topass therethrough; and means on the slotted bracket for selectivelylocking the associated bearing pin therein' and releasing it therefrom,whereby the housing and roller may be quickly secured to and removedfrom the brackets.

f Y FRANK ZEGA..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

